Shane Victorino benched as Charlie Manuel laments his approach
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Shane Victorino benched as Charlie Manuel laments his approach
Matt Gelb
There was a meeting before Charlie Manuel benched Shane Victorino. It happened Thursday night after a Phillies loss. Victorino had started 70 of the team's first 71 games and in his last one, he popped out in the eighth to strand the potential tying run on second base.
He was booed as an ordinary season slogged to another day — until Manuel told him he would not be a part of Friday's action.
"There was no apparent reason," Victorino said.
The manager was more revealing.
"I wanted to sit him down and want him to relax," Manuel said. "I just want him to sit there and see if he can clear his head a little bit. We'll give him a break and see what happens. Sometimes an off day is good for you."
Victorino, who is some 100 days away from free agency, says he is not concerned by that impending status. When asked if Victorino's contract has had a negative effect, Manuel rolled his eyes and said, "What do you think?"
That said enough.
For one, Victorino has not driven the ball with the frequency he did a season ago. He was among baseball's best when 10.2 percent of his hits went for extra bases. That rate has dropped to 7.4 percent in 2012, which would be his lowest since 2006.
Nearing the halfway point of this season, Victorino is on pace for career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Victorino predicted he would lead the league in triples as part of a national ad campaign for Major League Baseball before the season started. Through 71 games, he doesn't even lead the Phillies. Juan Pierre has three and Victorino has two.
"The way they're pitching him, he's striding quick and getting out on his front side," Manuel said. "He's an arm and hand hitter right now. He's an upper-body hitter. He's like a two-strike, defensive hitter from the left side right now.
"I want him to stay back and take better cuts at the ball."
Data from MLB's Pitch F/X system shows Victorino is seeing slightly fewer fastballs. He has seen more change-ups in 2012 while putting fewer in play.
"They take the sting out of his bat," Manuel said.
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The whole team suffers when half the starting 8 should be either retired, in the minors or on the bench. A supporting player like Vic won't be a star just because he's been on the team the longest and won a World Series. Like most players, he is what he is.— AvoidSundanceVacations- The entire team should be benched. They all stink. Talk about a fast sinking ship....— mbutley
- And you play for who? Probably never played organized sports accept for jacks but since you pay for tickets you can criticize them. Wrong... It's only a game... Get out the basement and see what you have been missing.. — Usafdav
- good move kept him there till he wakes up— rfklak
- good move kept him there till he wakes up— rfklak
- Vic is gone at the trading deadline. But, then so should 4-5 others.— Koons
- need players who get on Base.— daryl b
- they're on life support. but if these dudes pull a stunner and win it all this season, the parade down broad street is gonna be 2008x3.
- Misleading headline to get people to click. "Benched" implies that Manual has a new Center Fielder. But the text appears to say that this is a day off for a guy who has played a lot of games this season and is feeling some pressure.— tealradish
- though I am not one to make "excuses" for anyone, fans should understand that from day one (in 2006-07), Victorino was never expected to be anything other than a useful complementary player if he could get on base enough to keep him in lineup with his terrific defensive skills... when the Phillies of 2007- 2009 were a terrific offensive team this allowed for Victorino to just do his thing and his offense was a bonus... he was best batting in no. 2 spot before Utley and had some clutch hits with no pressure on him... on good teams like Yanks and Redsox a lot of hitters do well becuase there are no soft spots in lineup and there is little pressure on each individual ... once the team's offense fades then it is unrealisitic to expect complementary players like Victorino, Pence, Rollins, Ruiz, etc to be the major run producers as they are simply incapable of doing so... thus although I am a frequent critic, for the most part my criticism is not of the players for their insufficiency but on the g.m. who severely overspent and over-relied on such insufficient players while wasting the highest budget in the league.. if a g.m thinks that a lineup with Pence, Victorino and Mayberry in the key spots would be enough to hold the fort when he knew Howard and Utley were starting the season with major injury issues then he's the one at fault; if he thought that Herndon, Qualls, Schwimmer, Willis, Kendrick, etc were going to comprise a decent bullpen then he's the clear-cut imbecile— warbiscuit
- Sheesh. The NL East is absolutely up for grabs and we aren't at the All-Star break yet. You guys need to calm the eff down. WHEN they get Utley and Halliday back it'll be an obvious moral boost, let alone the leadership and skill. IF we get Howard back after the break, do you really think he is going to forget how to get RBI's?! Chill out. The Braves and Mets still know how to choke and the Nats...well, hopefully they will remember who they are. And Miami is a question mark, pitching-wise. Calm down, people, they aren't on life support just yet.— girouxforpresident
- is it the players fault that they are inadequate, or the g.m.'s fault that he overspends and relies on inadequate players? (and the manager's fault that he continues to send out players in spots in which they consistently fail)..anyone who knows anything about baseball coud have told you that Rollins offense has been fading since 2007, that Wiggington and Thome can't field, that Qualls and Herndon and Willis and Kendrick can't pitch and that Victorino and Pence can't carry a team— warbiscuit
- Two other players made outs with Wigginton in scoring position before Victorino did. So, the implication he's being benched because he didn't bring in Wigginton is ludicrous. Victorino had a better bat than Pence. Methinks Victorino is being benched because he may be on the trade block and the Phils want to make certain the outfield won't disintegrate without Victorino in centerfield. Victorino is trying too hard, and I've come to the conclusion he should try only hitting from the right side which is his natural side. He's a much better hitter from the right side, not only average-wise but also confidence-wise. Of course, if Victorino is to be the pariah the Phils will trade in the next few weeks to show the other players the management means business, I'm sure his next team will have already figured out that he is a perennial .300 hitter if he only hits from the right side as well as a perennial Gold Glove outfielder. If the Phils do make the mistake of trading him, I hope it's for Felix Hernandez who Seattle wants to trade for a hitter instead of Kevin Youklis who Boston wants to trade for anybody.— onthebucks
- rollins should be next— 1stamendment
- Vic has been terrific since 2007. He is in a slump and he is being singled out. I am sure his contract is on his mind but wouldn't it be on all yours too. I was PO'ed at Lee when he went after him in a couple of weeks ago and I don't like seeing this now. The linup is in shambles with 3 and 4 out. Everyone is trying to do more then they can and the fans are frustrated. We should remember what this guy has done ans meant to this team before judging so harshly. Keep you chin up Vic and things will turn your way— pjm0825
